ReadTheTalkPrivacy policy
Who we are
ReadTheTalk is independently operated by an individual. Its operator is responsible for the personal data described here.
For privacy questions or requests, email support@readthetalk.com.
This website and enquiries
This website has no account registration or payment form and does not use advertising trackers. We use a cookieless analytics service to understand website traffic through page views, referrer URLs, browser and operating system information, device types, and approximate location. If you email us, we use your email address, message, and any attachments to respond and handle your request. Please do not send passwords, identity documents, or full card details.
Website hosting and email services may process technical connection information needed to deliver pages and messages. We retain correspondence only as long as needed to handle the enquiry and meet applicable record-keeping obligations.
What the extension reads
ReadTheTalk is a browser extension. It reads a page only when you open the reading panel on that page. It does not read pages you have not opened it on, and it does not read your other tabs.
On a supported page it reads:
- the page address, and the media it identifies (platform identifier, episode or part, title, channel, duration);
- the caption tracks or transcript text the page itself provides;
- the player state needed to highlight the text and let you listen to a passage again.
We use this to identify the media, build your reading material, and keep your place in it. It is stored with your media document.
Your account
You sign in with Google. We receive your Google account identifier, your email address, and your name and profile picture. We do not receive your Google password, and we cannot sign in to your Google account.
Audio you send for transcription
Some supported sources publish a complete transcript. When one does, we read it and no audio is involved.
When a supported source has no complete transcript, the audio is captured in your browser and uploaded so that it can be transcribed. YouTube is never handled this way: for YouTube videos we read the platform's own caption tracks and never download the audio.
The retention policy is to delete uploaded audio after saving the transcription result, with residual files removed within 24 hours. We keep the transcription result, the media document, and a usage record for accounting.
What we store for you
Transcripts, overviews, chapters, articles, translations, and the page data described above, linked to your account, so that you can read them again later without consuming your allowance. Your processing history, allowance balance, and cost records are also kept.
Payments
This website does not currently accept payments or collect card details. When subscriptions open, Stripe will handle payment details and subscription billing. Billing records will be used to manage subscriptions, resolve payment issues, and meet accounting obligations.
Cookies and browser storage
Our website sets no cookies and uses no advertising or cross-site tracking.
The service sets one essential cookie that binds your signed-in session to your browser; without it you cannot stay signed in. Sign-in tokens are stored in the extension on your device and expire automatically.
Server logs
The service may log IP addresses, request times, request paths, and errors to operate and secure the service. The retention period for application logs is 30 days.
Service providers
We share data only with service providers that perform a specific function for us, and each receives only what that function requires. We do not sell your data and we do not share it for advertising.
| Signing you in to your account | |
| AI model providers | Generating overviews, chapters, articles, and translations from a transcript |
| Speech recognition providers | Transcribing audio when a source has no complete transcript |
| Hosting and infrastructure providers | Running this website and the service, and storing encrypted backups |
| Website analytics | Measuring website traffic as described above, without cookies |
| Email providers | Delivering support messages |
| Stripe | Processing payments and managing your subscription |
Providers are listed by category. Depending on the feature, they may include OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI, Amazon Web Services, and Cloudflare. If you need to know more about how a specific type of your data is handled, write to us.
Where your data is processed
Service providers may process data in countries other than your own. Data is shared for the purposes described in this policy and is subject to applicable data protection requirements.
Data retention
Deleting your account removes your personal data and access links, not the media documents or their historical versions. Retained content does not become public automatically, and other users’ access and tasks are unaffected. Uploaded audio and temporary files follow their normal retention periods.
| Uploaded audio | Deleted as soon as the result is saved; residual files swept within 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Page data (address, title, caption references) | Retained with the media and its document versions after account deletion |
| Transcripts, overviews, chapters, articles, translations | Retained with current and historical media documents after account deletion |
| Server logs | 30 days |
| Personal data after account deletion | Account details, reading records, and access links are removed or anonymized within 30 days; required billing and audit records are retained |
| Billing and tax records | Kept as long as accounting and tax law requires, separate from your account |
Your choices and rights
- Request deletion of personal data by writing to us. Account-data retention is described above; legally required records may be retained.
- Ask for a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Correct anything inaccurate.
- Object to or restrict how we process your data.
- Complain to the data protection authority in your country.
Write to support@readthetalk.com. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request. We will respond within the time required by applicable law.
Public library content
The public library contains results generated by the operator and by users whose results are public. Material being publicly accessible does not mean it is free of copyright or contains no personal data. We will review the basis for publishing library material and include source attribution where appropriate.
Results generated from public sources are added to the public library by default. Before processing, you can choose to keep a result private; private results are not shown to other users. Other users may read a public result under their plan allowance. Pro Picks are operator content and remain available for other Pro users to unlock; a user's private setting does not hide them. We do not currently support uploading your own audio files.
For a rights or privacy concern about library material, email support@readthetalk.com with its URL and the concern.
Security
The website and service use encrypted connections (HTTPS), and access to our systems is restricted. We back up the service database every day; backups are encrypted, and deleted data may remain in them for a limited period until they expire.
Do not send passwords or full card details by email. No method of transmission or storage can guarantee absolute security.
Children
ReadTheTalk is not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from them. If you believe a child has used the service, write to us and we will delete the account.
Changes to this policy
If we change how we handle personal data we will update this page and change the update date above. For a material change we will also tell you in the product or by email before it takes effect.
Contact
Email support@readthetalk.com. We usually reply to general enquiries within 1–2 business days. Personal data requests are handled within the time required by applicable law.